Prominent local labor leaders sent the following “letter of solidarity ” to “Occupy Seattle” protesters late Wednesday in Seattle’s Westlake park:

“On behalf of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and our 500 affiliated local unions and over 400,000 union women and men we want to express our solidarity with “Occupy Seattle” for standing up for and speaking out on behalf of the 99% who have victimized by corporate and political decisions that put the interests of corporate America and Wall Street before the people.”

The letter was from Jeff Johnson and Lynne Dodson, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, and David Freiboth, Executive Secretary of the M.L. King County Labor Council.

Seattle Parks Department workers took down the tents after the arrests were made.

The Seattle protest followed a massive, ongoing action in Manhattan that has seen hundreds arrested. By comparison, the Westlake demonstration appeared sedate; organizers estimated the crowd has exceeded 200 during the day, with about 100 protesters staying overnight.